Joey Self

I view the free agent evaluation much like trades with other teams. Using Avila for example, if another catcher is available for a price that the team thinks is a better value, then Avila is "traded" for that one. (Now, I know the team that just lost the better catcher may not sign Avila, but that's not relevant.) It's not a perfect analogy, because often a catcher is traded for an outfielder and a prospect. JcS

You may be right. You may not be. Because of the 2020 performance, I believe the Twins need to spend some time (and maybe money) thinking about plan B if this doesn't happen. JcS

"We’ve already seen him play in pressure situations- the Twins should take their time in grooming the young star." And what did we see in those pressure situations that make us think he needs "grooming time?" JcS

What happens in the AL Central? The division that was a joke a few years ago, a cakewalk for Cleveland, is going to become even tougher as Detroit improves. I haven't studied what the problem is in Kansas City, but they showed flashes of life against the Twins this year, so maybe they too are on the way back to contention. JcS

Yeah, I'm not so sure I believed that. There had to be a bathroom break sometime in that 4 1/2 hours where thoughts of Eddie would have been allowed. JcS

I can't remember the exact number, but in order for stealing to pay off over the course of a season, a base stealer has to be successful something like 75% of the time, or else the expected run value is hurt to the point that staying at first is the better move. Stealing third is even of less advantage; my recollection is that it has to be successful over 80% of the time to pay off over the course of a season. Bunting is almost always dumb move from the EV standpoint--giving up an out for a base is not the right statistical play unless the hitter's average is something like .160 (again, working from memory), which won't be the case too often with the DH (but this could be adjusted for a lefty against lefty where the hitter can't handle southpaws, I presume). Giving up an out for two bases--moving runners from 1st and 2nd to 2nd and 3rd-- with no outs IS a proper play to get at least one run. If a big inning is needed, then probably not too wise to give up an out for two bases. Hit and run isn't so easy to quantify--or if it is, I've missed the articles analyzing it. Sending Kepler on a hit and run with Arraez at the plate is probably OK. Sending Sano when 2020 Garver is up--not so much. But, I like to end on agreement, and hitting them where the fielders aren't strikes me as just common sense. I heard a major leaguer explain that it's hard enough to try to hit a 97 MPH fastball or a 85 MPH slider without trying to aim it, and I understand that; not all hitters can do it. But it's something to work on, maybe. JcS

There's a difference between "giving up an out" and bunting for a hit. I think most MLB managers and players know which is which, and I'd like to see guys do it and/or try to hit to beat it, especially when the game is not in doubt. Unless the computer is astute enough to pick up on where balls are going in a meaningless portion of a game, hitters can screw up the scouting reports a bit. BTW, in the article, I think this part needs editing: "with shortstop Jorge Polanco on the left side of second base and Marwin Gonzalez, playing slightly in at third to guard from the bunt, as the only body on the right side." If the third baseman was the only body on the LEFT side, then Polanco was on the RIGHT side of second.

I'd LOVE for Lindor to become a Twin--I enjoy watching that man play the game. But the idea of sticking an infielder in the outfield is one that I hope has died in the Twins organization. I remember Santana, Escobar, Sano and I think someone else being stuck out there, with predictable (poor) results. If Lewis has shown in the minors that he can play outfield, OK, but it's not an entry level position for a major leaguer.

"Yet it is hard to imagine that a team with this caliber of players would not have made some noise in October given more time to work out kinks and injuries, restore confidence at the plate, and find their true identity as a ballclub." This misses the obvious-- playing 162 increases by a factor of almost 3 increases the time for more season ending injuries, and overlooks that the same injuries that happened in 60 games that were played could happen in the last 60 games in a regular season. I'm not sure what the phrase "their true identity as a ballclub" means. Unless they were suddenly going to become a small-ball team, they knew what they were. JcS

Uh, then why not start Cave? I'd have much rather had Cave hitting 6th. Or Jeffers, or Gonzo or Polanco...someone that has been in that spot before. Yeah, I know, a lot of guys hit a home run in their first major league at bat... but it's something that gets noticed because it doesn't happen that often. JcS

I agree with a lot of this. I'm not a fan of the bunt, but 1st and 2nd with no one out is THE time to do it, especially with Buxton's speed. Garver just doesn't have it this year. Was last year lightning in a bottle, or will he come back strong in '21? Don't know, but I do know what I'm seeing this year didn't warrant pulling Jeffers at that point--or at any point. As for bringing in Odorizzi, I have to defer to Wes Johnson on that--he has seen him in the bullpen and maybe on the mound at St. Paul. Any time the one on the mound doesn't do well, it's natural to think someone else would. But the way the Astros used their reliever was what I wanted to see the Twins do--May was throwing well, leave him in and don't worry about tomorrow. He could be back for game 3 if needed. I disagree that it was a "game deciding" play by Polanco. There's no reason to think the Twins would have scored in the bottom of the 9th, given they didn't; yeah, maybe playing for one run would have worked, but that's not the smart play. JcS

The bunt is largely a stupid play. But there are times when that skill is needed. JcS

Really? That's been part of his story all along. But we don't know what we don't know... JcS

Exhibit 5420 as to why the ESZ needs to be implemented as soon as it is better than the humans. I don't care if it isn't perfect, as long as it is better. JcS

I could have taken some work home last night for this morning, but I have a court appearance tomorrow at 1:30, so I knew I'd want the TV here to pause the game and come back to it. Stupid court, didn't even think about the Twins playing. (But then, I am in Arkansas, so...) JcS

I explained to the boss there were EIGHT games tomorrow, and he immediately understood the problem. He really is a great guy. JcS

I'm blessed with the BEST BOSS in the world. I bought a flat screen TV to the office today with my Roku stick, and am sitting here watching the Twins. JcS (yeah, OK, I confess, I AM the boss...but still, I was good to me)

Yes, and had the Twins had the division championship locked up on Sunday, I doubt Hill would have pitched--or at least not as many innings as he did. But they didn't, so he did... JcS

I'm guessing, and only guessing, that the thinking is that Jeffers will be pulled for a pinch-hitter, and then later, the replacement catcher will also be pulled (maybe for a pinch runner). With Astudillo being able to play more than one spot (mind you, none with any great skill), I see why he is on the roster for this short series. JcS

I wouldn't mind that if the Twins were up 13-1 in 8th inning. JcS

Yeah, I tend to watch them after they have started, and that 10 second advance feature on MLB.TV on my computer is great. I get to see all the pitches, but don't have to listen to all the jabber. JcS

I welcome the use of the electronic strike zone. I don't want to hear "it's not perfect yet." What I want to hear is "it's more accurate than what humans are doing," and that's an improvement. JcS

I'd take that. The Cleveland game doesn't affect that, does it? The way I read it, if Oakland wins and the Twins and Sox both lose, Twins get Houston, which is my preferred match. No trash cans available for them this year. JcS

If it's the guys that did the Braves games this year, I'm fine with it. I spent HUNDREDS of hours listening to Skip, Pete, Ernie, Don, Joe and whoever else they had from '79 until TBS stopped playing Braves games. Chip reminds me a bit of his dad, and the rest of the current crew is OK with me. JcS

Which pitchers do you think have benefitted the most from having Wes Johnson as their coach? I have watched the last couple of years with interest when he jumped off my alma mater's team (Arkansas Razorbacks) to the big show. I would have thought he would have been better working with pitchers at AA or A ball, but I don't know as much about the game as those that hired him. JcS